Report: Portugal 4-1 England WU19s

Qualification for the semi-finals remains in England’s hands, with all four teams on three points ahead of the final matchday. 

A gentle start to the game saw a tussle for possession and confidence between the teams.

The biggest chance of the early stages saw England hit the net 13 minutes in, though Mari Ward’s neat finish from Ava Baker’s corner was disallowed for handball in a busy penalty area. 

A tight affair threatened to break open when Carolina Santiago pounced onto a loose touch to break in behind the England defence, but a quick response by the ankles of an onrushing Katie Cox denied Portugal an opener. 

A scrappy end to the first half that saw Portugal and their vocal fans grow into the match, but it was seen out the strongest by England. 

Vivienne Lia’s powerful run inside the field opened up a previously watertight midfield of the Portuguese. Continuing her run, she met the end of Baker’s cross out wide, but narrowly scooped the ball over the bar. 

Just a minute later, a similar strong run to the back post by Lia broke the deadlock. This time, it was Lexi Potter’s venture from midfield whose cross into a dangerous area was bundled in by Lia. 

Despite going in at half-time with the lead, England faced a rejuvenated Portuguese pressure after the break. 

A spectacular double save from Cox was required to push away a header from Nozerand Correia, before denying Santiago’s close-range follow-up with a quick reaction. 

Santiago managed at her third attempt to convert past Cox, deftly touching in a cross minutes later. 

With the momentum of the game with Portugal, they followed up their equaliser with another to turn the tie on its head. Diana Costa’s deep cross was met by fellow substitute Anna Marques with a planted header into the England net. 

Portugal continued to push for more. Costa was once again involved on the opposite side to draw a foul from Potter to give her side a penalty, which was neatly dispatched by Marta Gago. 

Santiago continued to impress with a run in behind from the right side, getting on the end of a Costa pass, and poking the ball home for her second of the evening. 

England see out Group B against the competition’s holders, Spain, on Saturday, knowing qualification to the semi-finals is still possible for all four sides in the group. 

England: 1 Katie Cox (Chelsea) ©; 3 Mari Ward (Bristol City), 6 Katie Reid (Arsenal), 5 Lucy Newell (Manchester United), 17 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa); 8 Lexi Potter (Chelsea), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal), 12 Erica Parkinson (Valadares Gaia), 7 Ava Baker (Birmingham City), 11 Vivienne Lia (Arsenal); 9 Princess Ademiluyi (West Ham United)

Substitutes: 15 Maddy Earl (Arsenal) for Parkinson 56’, 14 Lauryn Thompson (Indy Eleven) for Lia 71’, 19 Jessie Gale (Arsenal) for Ademiluyi 71’, 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City) for Maltby 83’, 16 Araya Dennis (Tottenham Hotspur) for Baker 83’ 

Substitutes not used: 10 Lola Brown (Chelsea), 13 Eve Annets (Manchester City), 18 Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), 20 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Arsenal)

Goals: Vivienne Lia 45+2’, Santiago 76’, 88’, Marques 78’, Gago 82’

Head coach: Lauren Smith